Ashwin sees Bumrah-Bhuvneshwar as India’s potential World Cup new-ball pair

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to India’s T20I squad could become the first step towards an even bigger comeback, according to former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The 36-year-old pacer has returned to the national setup after nearly four years, having been picked for India’s upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar last played an ODI against South Africa at Paarl in January 2022, but his recent performances have brought him back into the selectors’ plans.
Ashwin believes the New Zealand series could be closely watched by the selectors and that a strong showing could immediately put Bhuvneshwar back into contention for the ODI side ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“He is going to New Zealand now. I am telling you, if he does well, everyone will immediately say, just take him for the ODI team as well. The selectors will be watching very closely,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Bhuvneshwar’s greatest advantage remains his ability to move the new ball. He has taken 141 wickets in 121 ODIs and can swing the ball both ways while maintaining enough pace to trouble batters. Ashwin believes those qualities could be particularly valuable in conditions where seam and swing are expected to play a role.
“Do you want swing? He has swing. If you want it to move one way, he can do that. If you want it to move both ways, he can do that too. And then he has decent pace,” Ashwin said.
The veteran pacer’s recent IPL performances have strengthened his case. He played an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back title-winning campaigns, taking 17 wickets in 2025 and 28 in 2026.
Ashwin, however, identified one major factor that could determine whether the comeback extends beyond the T20I series: fitness. Bhuvneshwar’s career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, and his ability to stay fit will be crucial if he is to handle the demands of 50-over cricket.
Still, Ashwin can already envision an experienced new-ball pairing with Jasprit Bumrah.
“If he swings the ball and shows decent fitness, nobody can stop Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar from sitting together on that flight to the World Cup,” he said.
For now, Bhuvneshwar’s immediate task is to prove that he still belongs at international level. A successful series in New Zealand could turn an unexpected T20I recall into a genuine World Cup opportunity.